Tendai Rupapa in Musami

A CARNIVAL atmosphere recently enveloped Musami in Mashonaland East Province where the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa distributed an assortment of goods, including blankets, to the elderly, child-headed families and those with disabilities as she inculcates in communities a sense of responsibility and caring for the needy at all times.

The mother of the nation held an interactive session with community members to tackle thorny issues related to family unity, drug abuse and child marriages.

She engaged the whole family set up to find a lasting solution to what is tearing families apart.

She said when families become disintegrated, the family fibre becomes weak leading to family unity breaking.

Amai Mnangagwa taught communities good family relations and formed Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba teams for various wards to give children in their communities direction and ensure they grow up morally upright.

This was after the community during an interactive session with the First Lady confirmed that youths were abusing drugs and dressing improperly, a situation, which was no longer confined to cities and towns as such practices had also taken root in rural communities.

The elderly usually have to contend with boredom, loneliness and poor health, hence the need for the able-bodied to check on them frequently and assist them in whatever way they can.

This is why Amai Mnangagwa has insisted that she will not tire until she distributes blankets, warm clothes and food to all the people in need countrywide to cushion them this winter.

She has also repeatedly urged the nation to accord the needy love and assistance so that they lead normal lives like other citizens.

Goods distributed included traditional grains, rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, blankets and winter jackets.

Beneficiaries were drawn from all nine districts of the province.

In her remarks, Amai Mnangagwa decried the collapse of the extended family unit saying this had resulted in lack of care for some members of society.

“I greet you all as the Mashonaland East family. I am glad to be with you again after my recent visit with a team of international and local doctors for health checks in Mudzi where we spent days together.

“Each year, I bring blankets and warm clothes for the less privileged countrywide. I also want to thank Angel of Hope Foundation’s partners for their continued support. Today, I am focusing on the elderly, orphans and those with disabilities. I am thankful for the valuable lessons brought by my children from Matabeleland, IYASA, through their plays.

But how are we living as families? How about extended families, how are we? Are we united? Do we know how we are living and where others are? Nowadays we see relatives dragging each other to the courts of law, which was not the case in the days of old. How about resolving such cases at family level?

“When a child comes of age and intends to marry, you must teach her manners as aunts, grandmothers and uncles. Are our aunties, uncles and grandmothers still existent?

“You are the fortress of knowledge and are you still involved in moulding the family? Families are getting lost, where are you?” she said to applause.

The question set the cat among the pigeons, eliciting varied responses.

Gogo Mavis Maremo blamed daughters-in-law for family divisions.

“Daughters-in-law no longer take kindly to their children visiting aunties or grandmothers because they brand them witches. We hear that our grandchildren were married off and we are puzzled how that would happen without the child being given the necessary training on what is expected of her.

“Neighbours will tell you that the child was married off as the family sang “Aunt you are a witch”.

“How can a daughter-in-law marry off a girl without her grandmother or aunt knowing? Long ago it was unheard of,” she said.

Another elderly respondent blamed some churches for driving a wedge among relatives.

“We are being divided by some churches which brand some people witches, resulting in family rifts arising from failure to understand one another,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of daughters-in-law, Mrs Prisca Kubvoruno said their relationship with in-laws were spoilt by ill-treatment.

“What drives us into having bad relations with in-laws is the treatment we are accorded as daughters-in-law.

“Mothers-in-law team up with their daughters to stress us up. I then stay at my house and forget about them. Divorced aunts can be a problem in our marriages,” she said.

Speaking as a mother-in-law, gogo Susan Chatikobo blamed it all on daughters-in-law.

“Our daughters-in-law are the trouble causers because they were not properly trained before marriage.

“If she is counselled they then say ‘I came for my husband only and not the whole lineage’. However, when they came you would expect them to take care of the family because we are now old. Daughters-in-law also feel they are competing with their mothers-in-law for the time and attention of their husbands,” she said.

Sekuru Mayor Chando was critical of some daughters-in-law.

“I have a problem with the daughter-in-law. She loves her mother deeply yet for the husband’s parents it’s the opposite because no groceries ever come.

“When she sends a 2kg packet of sugar to us, you will know that she would have sent 10kg to her parents,” he said to laughter from the gathering.

The mother of the nation weighed in saying the collapse of the extended family unit spawns a serious lack of morals among people characterised by endless squabbles and trading of witchcraft accusations.

She also touched on the thorny issue of early child marriages.

“How about child marriages? Dear parents, are you the ones who are marrying off children? I was pained when I went to Bulawayo where a nine-year-old girl gave birth and to Bindura where an eight-year-old girl also gave birth.

“Are our daughters being raped?” the First Lady asked.

In response, community members noted that some men no longer cared about age and were even turning to young children to satiate their sexual appetite thereby impregnating them.

Another elderly lady shared her views saying: “I noticed that young couples are wrongly embracing western culture. They make their children, even 10-year-olds, share the bedroom with them.

“What will you be teaching that child? That is when you see a girl rushing into relationships with men because the child would have seen what you will be doing.”

Mrs Rosemary Makano echoed the same sentiments.

“Our children are influenced by what they watch on their phones and the way they are dressing is akin to walking in the nude and rushing to consummate love relationships. It was once prevalent in towns alone, but nowadays it’s the whole country,” she said.

Dr Mnangagwa spoke about her Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme and said she wanted to form committees across the wards that will be responsible for counselling youths through Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba. She asked for volunteers whereupon elderly men and women came forward as the First Lady engaged them on what they should do.

The First Lady said she will return to monitor progress. She humbly asked traditional leaders to be also involved and listen to the teachings.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Chaplain Christine Phiri hammered on the need for one to look after their parents.

“What causes you to turn your backs on parents, the elderly, the disabled and orphans? Why are we not learning from our mother who is showing us the way. How do you as a daughter-in-law fail to look after your mother-in-law? In most cases daughters-in-law distance themselves because of the reception they received but our mother is traversing the length and breadth of the country teaching us love, unity and forgiveness. Some daughters-in-law accuse their mothers-in-law of witchcraft.”

Is being old a sign of being a witch. Let us look after our parents because they spent a fortune sending you to school and today you do not value them. The First Lady is planting a root of love that we should all embrace. Like Amai said, nowadays we no longer value the extended family unity as each family now stands for itself yet we were in the past just one big family. Our mother is saying we must unite. She is not just looking at the elderly but also widows, the disabled deserve help. She frowns upon those who harass widows and orphans while taking away their inheritance and branding the widows witches. Even the bible abhors this. Let us thank our mother for her love,” she said.

Chief Mangwende expressed delight at the First Lady’s benevolence and willingness to inculcate a sense of responsibility among citizens.

So touched were the beneficiaries that they thanked the First Lady.

Mrs Gladys Mukondwe from Ward 5 thanked the First Lady for the gift of blankets.

“I am glad our mother has warmed us up and has remembered us as orphans who live with disabilities. We were failing to cope with the cold weather. She also gave groceries to beat hunger caused by the current drought,” she said while ululating with happiness.

“Our mother has shown us real love. We are in the winter season where temperatures are very low and I thank her for her thoughtfulness. She has also taught us the importance of valuing the family unity,” said Mrs Martial Dombo.

Sekuru Tedius Gomba said he was glad to have been selected to assist in the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme.

“Our children are getting lost by the day as can be evidenced by their consumption of illicit brews and general lawlessness. I feel moved to want to play a part in moulding these youths because they are giving our nation a bad name,” he said.

Gogo Monica Kadzunge was also over the moon.

“I am worried about the issue of early child marriages. I have volunteered to come in and assist these children. We want our children to climb up the ladder of success and that can only be possible through being focused,” she said.

The Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Aplonia Munzverengwi said she was thankful to the mother of the nation for standing for the cause of the needy.

“Amai the assistance that you have brought will help us in addressing challenges that confront orphans, the elderly and those with disabilities.

“We wish to thank you greatly for unveiling this programme which ensures our children have food and clothing,” she said.

IYASA provided edutainment and their message was; “Winter is upon us. Sharing is caring. Share a blanket, share the warmth, save a soul.” – Herald